4.12.13

TC Sidewalks Tour: The Last Holidazzle from the Minneapolis Skyways

It's time once again for a sidewalk tour, and given the slightly
cooling temps, the downtown skyways seem like a good bet. Join me,
travel writer Leif Pettersen, and whoever else decides to come down to
the skyways on a Friday.

Last time I participated
in a skyway tour, we were politely ejected from the Gaviidae Common by a
security guard riding a segway. So you'll have that to look forward to.
Plus you can see the oldest extant skyway, the birthplace of the
skyways, the longest skyway, or anything else skyway related that I feel
might be on the way of our route.

The highlight, of course, is the final year of the Holidazzle parade:

What is the Hollidazzle Parade? It's an attempt to create an holiday-themed "attraction" during the busy winter shopping season. It was spurred by the opening of the Mall of America in 1992 by downtown retailers who were very worried about competition for holiday shopping dollars.

It
typically consists of a few floats with santas, lights, a be-sparkled
MetroTransit bus, and people dressed up in 8' christmas light costumes
walking down Nicollet and waving at families with kids bundled up
because its freezing cold outside. WCCO tends to cover it like a plaid
wool blanket, as it goes right past the window of their Nicollet Mall
studio

Well, it turns out that's a lost cause. Downtown retail is
hardly thriving, apart from catering to people who already live
downtown and don't need to be lured there. The powers that be (Target)
has decided (rather quietly) that this will be the final year. Prepare
to be "Holidazzled" for the last time.

We'll also hit a few
skyway highlights, like the oldest extant skyway, the birthplace of the
skyway, the skyway to nowhere, and Block E.

Bring a friend. See you there. Come for part or all of the tour.

Here's Leif talkinga bout the skyways. We're going to throw down about whehter or not they should be allowed to exist.